Issue 13 - InJoy Magazine

Bo Roskott is in year 10 at Shearwater Steiner School
and she approached me for work experience. I too
was given this opportunity back in 1979 and was very
happy to return the ‘favour’.
Lina & Isabel Buck, twins in yr 10 at Shearwater, were
thrilled to publish their art and I was very impressed
with what Bo prepared for this article... real words
from a young local who cares about the future.
Bhadrena Rose, editor of InJoy Magazine
As if we are idiots!
by Bo Roskott, 15
Byron Shire youth are often identified
as having a binge-drinking problem,
mainly because there really are very
few places for young people to hang
out, boredom sets in and then trouble
can follow.
Isabel Buck,16
When I talk to my friends from Holland
they always sound excited when I tell
them I live near Byron Bay. Apparently
Byron is regarded as a global hot spot...
the perfect place; a spot of paradise
on our planet with beautiful beaches,
restaurants, rainforests and pubs. For
adults there are lots of social things to
do like nightclubs, bars, parties, and
over 18 festivals. However for me and
my peers - I’m a 15 year old girl - there
are some daytime activities like surfing,
going to the beach and hanging out at
friend’s houses, but once the sun goes
down we haven’t got much to choose
from… there really isn’t much for us
young people to do at night.
the Sweetest Place
experience quality
Initiate
I understand that adults want a to keep their children safe, but teenagers
are very curious and like to experiment with new things (parents who
are reading this, think back to your own youth).
Some things we do may not seem appropriate and this is why it is so
important to have parents who you can talk to, and hear their experiences
and the opinions they have about alcohol, drugs and sex. That is a way
we can be prepared and aware of the traps we could fall into.
What our parents and older people do influences us. Many adults
around here drink alcohol and smoke when they party and sometimes
a bit too much… and they may well be the same parents who don’t
allow their children much freedom. Children don’t always do what their
parents tell them, children often do what they see their parents do, and
some parents don’t even realise that their kids know so much about
what their parents do. As if we are idiots! If you forbid them and stop
them trying new things then your child may feel that they have to hide
things, which can increase the risk that they will do it even more—and
without you knowing.
When adults look at teenagers they often say: they are out of control;
they drink; they don’t think before they do things; they won’t do what I
say, etc etc. But when teenagers look at adults they also say: they drink
too and it doesn’t appear that adults think before they do some things,
and they won’t listen to us, etc, etc. All of our generation’s parents were
young in the flower power / hippy days, trying new things, hoping to heal
the world and I wonder how they feel they’ve done.
As young people we need to find
out who we are so the
changes that are necessary
in this world can happen and it
is the youth of today who will
be the adults of tomorrow.
We are all humans after all
and many teenagers, especially
in our area, are willing to be
community-minded and do try
to make responsible decisions
and listen to their heart—and
it would be great if adults could
try and remember that they were
young once and remember to respect
that the youth of society need to
explore life, and always parent
with your heart wide open.
Lina Buck,16
Mullumbimby Chocolate Shop
Dalley St Plaza Dalley St. Mullumbimby
open Mon - Sat 9 till 5
injoy injoy
18
youth, family, community • • • •